Attorney General Files Suit Against Colorado Humane Society

12/10/2008

DENVER -- Colorado Attorney General John Suthers today announced that his office has filed a civil lawsuit against Colorado Humane Society & S.P.C.A., Inc., and its principals for alleged violations of Colorado law. As part of the lawsuit, Attorney General Suthers has requested the appointment of a custodian to take over management of the charity in an effort to preserve the long-term viability of the organization.

The lawsuit alleges that CHS, acting primarily through Mary C. Warren, Robert Warren, and Stephenie L. Gardner, violated numerous provisions of Colorado law, including the Charitable Solicitations Act, Consumer Protection Act, and the Revised Non-Profit Corporations Act. The Attorney General has brought this action under the authority of those statutes and his common law authority to regulate charities and to protect against improper use of charitable assets, which are held in trust for the public.

“I have taken decisive action today that I believe is necessary to preserve an important charitable institution whose history dates back to 1881,” said Attorney General Suthers. “While the lawsuit’s allegations will wait to be proven at trial, I felt the most important order of business was to ask the Court to appoint a custodian to operate the Colorado Human Society’s shelter and protect the charitable assets during the pendency of the lawsuit.”

Attorney General Suthers has requested an emergency hearing for the Court to consider his request for a custodian. The lawsuit has been filed in Arapahoe County.